Wild Bleeding Heart

Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)

Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) is a native woodland perennial from eastern North America, valued for its long season of soft rose pink, heart shaped flowers held over finely cut blue green foliage. Unlike old fashioned types that fade after spring, this species continues to bloom from late spring into fall in cool, evenly moist conditions, forming a tidy, semi evergreen clump that brings graceful texture and reliable color to shaded borders, woodland edges, and naturalistic plantings.

Distinctive Features

Arching stems carry nodding, frilled hearts for months, rising above lacy, fern like leaves in a compact, mounded habit; heat and humidity tolerance are superior to classic bleeding hearts, keeping foliage fresh and flowering steady in dappled shade.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial shade to shade; morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal.
• Soil: Rich, well drained, humus amended soil that retains consistent moisture.
• Water: Moderate; keep evenly moist during active growth, never waterlogged.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 10 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.
• Bloom Time: Late spring through fall with routine deadheading.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Long blooming pink hearts create a gentle highlight in shade.
• Woodland Gardens: Natural companion for hosta, heuchera, brunnera, and ferns.
• Shaded Borders: Fine texture knits together mixed plantings beneath trees.
• Rock and Gravel Edges: Performs in cool, well drained pockets with afternoon shade.
• Native and Pollinator Beds: Supports early and mid season pollinators.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water regularly during dry spells; mulch lightly to conserve moisture and cool roots.
• Pruning: Snip spent stems to encourage new buds and maintain a tidy mound.
• Fertilizing: Top dress with compost in spring; use a balanced, slow release fertilizer if soils are lean.
• Grooming: Remove any heat tired leaves in midsummer; fresh growth follows as temperatures ease.
• Division: Divide clumps in early spring or fall if vigor declines.

Why Choose Wild Bleeding Heart?

• Extended Flowering: Months of bloom from late spring into fall.
• Heat and Humidity Tolerant: Holds foliage and color better than old fashioned types.
• Compact and Tidy: Space efficient habit for borders and understory plantings.
• Wildlife Friendly: Nectar rich flowers support pollinators; foliage is typically avoided by deer.
• Easy Care Native: Reliable performance with simple moisture, mulch, and light grooming.

Dicentra eximia delivers sustained bloom, refined texture, and native garden value, providing an effortless, shade loving accent for woodland plantings, naturalized borders, and pollinator friendly designs.